In Jay Hopson’s eyes, the offense stood out at Southern Miss’ second practice session of spring training Thursday.

“Overall, I was pretty happy with the day,” he said.

Here are a few of Hopson’s other top takeaways.

Pleased with running backs

There has been plenty of concern surrounding the running back position at Southern Miss since Ito Smith took his final snap last December.

Specifically, a perceived lack of depth has been the subject of the majority of the worry. Much of it has been warranted given the uncertainty of George Payne’s status, Darius Maberry being expected to miss all of spring and fall camp, and the question of whether or not Tez Parks and T’Rod Daniels are capable of carrying the bulk of the load.

Two practices into spring training, third-year coach Jay Hopson is not feeling any anxiety.

“We’re a talented outfit at running back,” he said Thursday. “We’ve got guys with a lot of size, guys with speed.”

On top of Payne, Parks and Daniels, the Golden Eagles return redshirt sophomore Andre Hale II and redshirt senior Collin Kilcrease. But Hopson decided in October 2017 that 6-foot-2, 242-pound Steven Anderson, who signed as a quarterback, was destined to join the running back group.

And Anderson has not disappointed his coach.

“I think Steven’s a multi-talented kid with a great frame,” Hopson said. “I think he’s going to be special here. I thought he had a really good day today.”

Expecting a ‘fun’ battle at QB

For the second time this week, the reps at quarterback were divided pretty evenly among Keon Howard, Jack Abraham and Marcelo Rodriguez.

Hopson said he fully expects that to remain the case — at least until the team begins going through intrasquad scrimmages.

“The quarterback position will be fun to watch when we get into scrimmage situations,” he said. “You’re going to start making those assessments when you see those live bullets coming and you see how they move the football team. But I think Keon, Jack and Marcelo have all had two really good days. Tate (Whatley is) getting better, too.”

When asked whether he’s got a timetable for settling on a starter, Hopson indicated he’s in no hurry.

New faces at center

Through the first two practices, redshirt freshman Hayden Sturdevant and true freshman Trace Clopton have taken the bulk of, if not all, the snaps at center.

Devin Farrior took more than 95 percent of snaps at center last season, making for a high level of inexperience at the FBS level no matter who is tabbed as his successor. But Hopson likes what he has seen from the pair of youngsters.

Sturdevant, listed at 6-4, 287 pounds on last year’s official roster, worked mostly at guard in 2017. Clopton (6-2, 290) is an early high school enrollee after graduating from Brookhaven in December.

“We’ve got Hayden and Trace,” he said. “Of course, Trace should be going to senior prom right now. But he’s in there battling and doing a great job. Hayden and Trace are there right now, but we can move a couple of other guys there, too. I think that’s a position where we really solidified some depth.

“I think our offensive line as a whole, we’ve created a lot more depth than we’ve had.”

Others on the Southern Miss roster who have gotten work at center in the past — and possibly will again before the 2018 season opener — are Grey Best (6-2, 280), Wyatt Richthofen (6-4, 296) and Travion Clayton (6-2, 335).